Friday January 9, 2004 arts.michigandaily. com artseditor@michigandaily.com U1be firdfuym &dig ARTS 5 NOT JUST PLAYING AROUND THE TOP 10 VIDEOGAMES OF 2003 Exhibit displays the wonders of India 2003 lacked that special game that could redefine a genre. Yet, the industry reached new peaks in popularity with the public, as seen with the barrage of television ads, awards shows and game sales. Amid the countless sequels and rehashes released, a few games stood out from the rest of the pack. Without further ado, the Daily New Media staff has selected a list of 10 worthy.games. 'The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (Nintendo) - The decision process for this year's no, 1 was an easy one. Link's latest adventure is the year's best game and became an instant staple on the underrated GameCube system. "Wind Waker" has it all: creative puzzles, intense swordplay, beautiful graphics, an incredible score and a clever plot that ties in quite nicely with the rest of the series. "Zelda" still remains the best action RPG fran- chise and "Wind Waker" lived up to the hype. 2 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic4 (LucasArts) - Prov- ing that not all "Star Wars" games are garbage, this RPG took everyone by surprise. Every action chosen by the gamer changes your character's balance between the light and dark sides of the force, making fan- boys' dreams finally come true. 3Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (UbiSoft) - As if the acrobatics and stunning visuals weren't enough, "Prince of Persia" allows users to manipulate time itself, rewinding, accelerating and even stopping characters in their tracks. UbiSoft was careful to make gameplay easy enough for beginners but challenged players' minds throughout the expan- sive excursion across this Arabian city. Character animation is beautifully fluid, making each leap, climb, fall and fight immensely enjoyable. Despite its short length, "Persia" is a fine example of quality over quantity. By Sravya Chirumamilla Daily Arts Writer Bridal henna and the glint of opu- lence resonate in the color schemes at the University of Michigan Museum of Art's Indian art exhibit. The walls - decorated in terra-cotta red and turmeric yellow, chosen to coin- cide with several of the paintings on display - pro- vide a mix of both themearthy tones of the rural Indian subconti- nent and the vibrancy and spice of daily life. Visitors enter- ing the exhibit are immediately transported to the Divine Encounters, Earthly Pleasures: Twenty Centuries of Indian Art Now through Feb.22 Free The University of Michigan Museum of Art Courtesy of LucasArts The guy at the far left just wet himself. Madden NFL 2004/NCAA Football 2004 (EA Sports) - Writing a list of the top 10 games without including these near perfect football sims would be criminal. EA Sports deliv- ers excellence every year and the online play takes the bragging rights to a whole new level. Final Fantasy X-2 (Square Enix) - The first sequel to any game in the "Final Fan- tasy" saga, "X-2" follows the main charac- ters of "Final Fantasy X" on a sphere-hunting expedition across the war-torn world of Spira. The graphics are amazing, breathing color and life into the characters of this magical world, and the updated combat system is incredible. "X-2" is more than a worthy sequel - it's a well-thought out and well-executed game all around. Tony Hawk's Underground (Activi- sion) - Some game series stay stag- nant, but "Tony Hawk" just keeps getting better. Adding a story mode to the mix while keeping the same game engine enabled this new edition to be up to the standards of its pred- ecessors. Mario Kart: Double Dash! (Nintendo) - Though criticized for its simplicity, there's no arguing that Mario Kart is still the king of the action/racing genre. The smooth graphics and boppy music make the latest installment a must have for any multiplayer enthusiast. Viewtiful Joe (Capcom) - Fresh and fre- netic, "Joe" offers innovation in spades, con- trasting with the sequels that flooded the market this year. A return to 2-D gameplay with 3- Courtesy of Nintendo Who wants a moustache ride? D cel-shaded graphics, nothing else dared to take the chances that this game took in 2003. Panzer Dragoon Orta (Sega) - The fourth installment in this shooter series, which few know about, returns to form with steller gameplay in tow. "Orta" shows the power of the XBox's graphics engine while hav- ing precise and impeccable controls over the non-stop action. Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution (Sega) - No fireballs, no maces, no 30-foot vertical leaps, just the most beautifully intricate fighting game on the market. The "Evolu- tion" version features two new fighters as well as an all-new Quest Mode that pits gamers against some extraordinary Al. Plus, it's only 20 bucks. land of intricate archways and volup- tuous sculptures. Unlike many exhibi- tions, the museum has arranged the pieces by theme, not chronologically. The museum's senior curator of Asian art, Maribeth Graybill, explains, "This exhibit allows for people to get a sense of the aesthetic flavors and prin- cipled themes." Since distinctions in traditional Indian art lie in the religion of the area, some major indigenous theolo- gies - Hinduism, Jainism and Bud- dhism - are represented. Mughal influences are also visible in the paintings as the architecture and tapestries evoke the remarkable dynasties. Dating from before the Common Era to the 19th century, the pieces range from calligraphy to etchings. The exhibition continues in the base- ment with engravings by Bernard Picart, which are from as far back as the 16th century. The museum offers not just numer- ous paintings and sculptures on display, but also many events centered on the theme of Indian art. Scheduled are per- formances by classically trained dancers as well as speeches by the curator. Most notably, the museum, School of Art and Design and the Insti- tute for Research on Women and Gen- der are collaborating to bring artist Nilima Sheikh for a lecture series on Jan. 29. A talented, contemporary Courtesy of University of Michigan Museum of Art Vishnu Stele from Northeast India. painter, Sheikh looks to tradition while finding a place in her art to express 20th-century issues. Graybill observes that these presenta- tions will showcase a variety of art forms. "One of the messages of the exhibition is that we should no longer think of India as 'other."' Graybill expounded, "India is not long ago and far away, but very much a part of Michigan's heritage." This display is the first Indian art show in 20 years at the University. Graybill, an alum, remembers her excitement at finding the many exem- plary pieces in this collection. "It was a journey of discovery to learn what we have," she notes, adding that due to limited space, usually less than three percent of the University's col- lection of Indian art is showcased. The most impressive aspect of this exhibit is that the high quality art is primarily from the University's own collection. Graybill hopes to present more of the items once the newly approved wing for the museum is completed. However, current stu- dents will not be exposed to another such assortment of art in the near future. The rare opportunity to view such a noteworthy exhibit should not be missed. 'League' not so extraordinary, but entertaining By Douglas Wernert Daily Arts Writer DVD R EVI EW What do you get when you com- bine six famous literary characters, a guy that used to be James Bond and an evil villain with the ultra- creative name of "The Phantom?" You get "The League of Extraordi- nary Gentlemen," an action-adven- ture flick combining numerous fight scenes, rapidly moving story- lines and a wide assortment of special features to make for a decent night of entertainment. Sean Connery The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen FOX (Shane West, "A Walk to Remember"), the charismatic American agent, and even Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde make an appearance. What league of gentlemen would be complete without, of course, an attractive blood-sucking woman (Peta Wilson)? The seven heroes seem unbeatable but plot twists, love triangles and troubled pasts all hinder the goal to save the world. The movie is fast-paced, with plenty of action, special effects and battles against evil henchmen. The surprises are much needed and much appreciat- ed, preventing the box office bomb from being another film where the all- time good guys beat the bad guys. The extras exceed expectations for a film such as this, with two full- length commentaries, an abundance of deleted scenes and a multi-part documentary on the making of the film. The latter is the most interesting, with takes on the assembling of Mr. Hyde and the making of the city of Venice. The sharp picture and clear sound meet the standards expected from DVDs these days, and enhance an otherwise mediocre film. The "League" may look like your is Allan Quatermain, a seasoned adventurer recruited to save Europe from war by seeking out a weapons manufacturer (The Phantom) who plans to sabotage peace talks. Con- nery is not alone of course, as he is joined by the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. And what a league it is. Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah, "Monsoon Wedding") provides navigation and transportation, even using automobiles, which is remarkable since the movie takes place at the turn of the 20th Cen- tury. The Invisible Man (Tony Curran), Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend, "Queen of the Damned") is an ageless wonder who is safe from harm and Tom Sawyer standard, run-of-the-mill fantasy adventure, but solid features, a unique ensemble of characters and Sean Connery's voice allow it to be worth a look. Movie: ** Picture/Sound: ***i Extras: ***i BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE DAILY ARTS' TOP ALBUMS OF 2003. FIND MORE STAFFER PICKS ONLINE AT ART.MICHGANDAILYCOM. T-SHIRT PRINTERY A2'S FINEST & FASTEST PRINTED & EMBROIDERED TEES, SWEATS, CAPS, * TEAM SHIRTS, SHORTS U -UM PO#S ACCEPTED-~ --CALL FOR OUR . LOW PRICE QUOTE 5-DAY TURNAROUND 1002 PONTIAC TR. TEL. 994-1367 adrianstshirts.com Take a practice MCAT or LSAT for FREE MCAT Saturday, January 24 9-5 LSAT Saturday, January24 9-12:30 Call 800-2-Review to register. Spaces are limited. MCAT courses starting The January 10,24,& 31to ic oprepare for the April MCAT. ReView www.PrincetonReview.com University Musical Society Winter Half-Price Student Ticket Sale Saturday, january 10 10 am- 1pm For one day only at the beginning of each semester, UMS offers HALF-PRICE TICKETS to students. This extremely popular event draws hundreds of students every year - last year, students saved over $118,738 on UMS Tickets. Some perfomances have a limited number of tickets available, so get there early!